Timeless Style: Look Great With Vintage

your vintage vehicle

If you want to try your hand at finding authentic vintage pieces, there are a few things you need to know first:

Learn the difference between "thrift" & "vintage"

Items found at thrift stores are second-hand, and are cheaper than what you'll find at an authentic vintage store. Locations where you can find thrift items include the Salvation Army, flea markets, as well as second-hand stores. Vintage apparel refers to clothing and accessories from a different era; vintage items range in price and quality.

Inspect the item's condition

Whether you're shopping at a thrift shop or the best vintage store in the city, make sure the article is in mint condition. Check the stitching, finishing, lining, and exterior for defects or stains, and make sure you won't need alterations (these can sometimes cost more than the item itself).

Know how to recognize authentic vintage

If you're a wine connoisseur, you know a good bottle when you see it. By the same token, it's important to not get taken for a ride by merchants who claim that the leather jacket you're contemplating was really from the '50s. Once you get to know retro merchandise and time periods better, you'll notice certain signs of authenticity and quality that will make you a savvy vintage consumer. Details like workmanship, buttons, buttonholes, cuffs, and seams are usually good indicators of the item's quality and authenticity.

where to find the goods

Local thrift & vintage stores

Most cities — especially metropolitan ones — have their share of quality vintage and thrift stores. But to ensure that you don't spend hours sifting through frayed pants and torn shirts, check out the quality thrift stores. Ask around for the reputable ones that only stock high quality second-hand goods, not the stuff that was passed up by the Salvation Army. Check out the Yellow Pages (under "thrift clothing"; or "vintage" and "retro"), or head to a district where these kinds of stores can be found (usually the hip, or even artsy, neighborhoods). For example, New York City's East Village and Lower East Side are known for their wide array of thrift stores.Note: you can usually find quality thrift stores in neighborhoods that offer "eclectic" stores and coffee shops.

Savers (& other major thrift retailers)

Don't get turned off just yet. I know Savers' shelves are stocked with all kinds of second-hand garments, and I don't recommend purchasing items like pants or shirts. But there could be hidden treasures, like a perfectly washed-out Levi's jean jacket or Top Gun-style bomber jacket, just waiting to be worn. But be forewarned: it takes time to sift through the merchandise, so be patient and bring along a babe who loves retro goods. As well, just because something costs less than a fast-food value meal, it's not necessarily a must-have: it's not a bargain if it's doomed to a lifetime of collecting dust in your closet.